Take Two: Will Manziel get another chance in the NFL?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
MORE TAKE TWO: Ole Miss recruiting | Could Lamar Jackson be one of the biggest steals in the NFL Draft?
THE STORYLINE
Johnny Manziel is making an attempt to return to the NFL but will any team take a shot on the former Heisman Trophy winner?
The former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, who was cut after two seasons and numerous off-field issues, threw at the San Diego and Texas A&M pro days recently. According to reports, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans, who was in College Station and watched Manziel throw, said Manziel is talented enough to be a starting quarterback in the league.
But so many off-field concerns might keep conservative-leaning franchises trying to steer clear of more TMZ-level headlines away from Manziel.
On The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday, Manziel questioned the Browns’ choice of drafting him in the first round, admitting he wasn’t a player who came in every day to watch film and he didn’t know the Xs and Os of football. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for an NFL franchise to take another shot on him.
Will Manziel get another shot chance in the NFL or are teams too concerned with the potential disaster in signing him?
FIRST TAKE: MARK PASSWATERS, AGGIEYELL.COM
“I really don't know what's in store for Manziel. He was very good at A&M's pro day and has impressed people with how he's matured as a person. In terms of talent, there's no question: He's an NFL quarterback. He still does things nobody else can. But the NFL is an historically conservative institution and he burned a lot of bridges with how he acted a few years ago. He is, however, a different guy now that he's being treated for bipolar disorder and hopefully that will be enough to get him a shot in the bigs again. Because he's definitely still one of the top 100 or so quarterbacks on the planet.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“He’ll probably go to the CFL. I don’t think he will go to the NFL. I don’t think anybody is going to take a chance on him. I don’t think he’s worth it.
“He wasn’t horrible with the Browns, especially compared to some of the other quarterbacks they’ve had, but all the off-field problems, why do you want to mess with that? There are just too many good quarterbacks out there.
“I’m not saying the depth at quarterback in the NFL is loaded. We see guys like Blaine Gabbert and Brandon Weeden who continually get backup jobs and are not very good quarterbacks, but he’s on that same level. He’s not a difference-maker, he’s not special, so why take a chance on a guy who would be a backup for you if he’s just going to be trouble? That’s why I don’t think he will make it back.”
